In a decisive move, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has issued notices to 41 residential societies with non-operational Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs). The action comes in line with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change’s mandate and Maharashtra’s Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations.
As per a Central Government notification from December 2016, it is mandatory for constructions exceeding 20,000 sq. m. to process and reuse wastewater within the project premises. Additionally, Rule 13.4 of the New Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UNDCPR), Maharashtra, requires constructions over 10,000 sq. m. to recycle treated water, with provisions for discontinuing water connections for non-compliance.
A consulting agency, appointed by the PCMC for effective implementation, is conducting regular inspections of residential societies’ STPs. Notices have been issued to societies where STPs are non-operational, and water is not reused for non-drinking purposes. The PCMC has informed these societies that water connections will be severed unless they take prompt action to activate their STPs.
While many societies have implemented functional STPs, no positive response has been received from the identified 41 societies. Consequently, starting from December 11, 2023, their PCMC water connections will face termination.
Society chairpersons have voiced their concerns and opinions on the matter. Subhash Satpute, Chairman of Madhav Apartment, Moshi, emphasized that the responsibility lies with builders to provide functional STPs for societies, calling the notices unfair. Kiran Vadgama, Chairman of Palash Society, Wakad, questioned the authority that checks STPs, urging scrutiny by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). Dattatray Deshmukh, Chairman of Pimpri Chinchwad Housing Societies Federation, expressed skepticism, stating that water connections cannot be cut and emphasized the need for PCMC to inspect its own STPs before scrutinizing others.
